Two dead after stunt plane crashes in Ohio

A stunt plane carrying a wing walker — an aerial daredevil who traverses the length of an aircraft during flight — crashed into a field and erupted in a ball of flames during an air show in western Ohio on Saturday. NBC’s Michelle Franzen reports.

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This content comes from Closed Captioning that was broadcast along with this program.

>>now to a horrific accident witnessed by hundreds at an
air show
in dayton, ohio today. what had been a thrilling performance by a veteran pie lot and experienced fee mall
wing walker
turned to tragedy when the plane suddenly went out of control.
nbc
's
michelle franzen
has the story for us tonight.

>> reporter: the horrifying moment as hundreds watch a plane carrying a
wing walker
at the
dayton air show
crash to the ground without warning. foe toe photos and videos show the plane coming in low before going upside down, the plane makes a sudden twist.
wicker
and her pilot, died.

>>of it is mu understanding there was nothing they could do for the victims of the crash.

>> reporter: a statement on the facebook page reads -- it is with sad hats that we announce that jane
wicker
and charlie schwenker were tragically killed while performing. her website mentions a love of
wing walker
, after responding to an ad for a
wing walker
position more than 20 years. in an interview, yesterday,
wicker
, a budget analyst by trade told dayton's
nbc
affiliate she was drawn to the thrill.

>>i have been the kind of person that gets bored easy.

>> reporter: wicker
goes on to describe how she does her stunts.

>>i start out in the cockpit, walk along the wing, no safety line, no tether, no harness, no parachute and i walk on the wing.

>> reporter: retired
wing walker
pilot walt pierce said
wicker
was among the
small circle
of daredevil performers who has what he calls a life wish.

>>the camaraderie with the other people that fly is really great. and, they get hooked on the people as much as the flying.

>> reporter: wicker
documented her adventures on her facebook page and life with family. she was a mother of two boys, and recently engaged. today's accident comes just five years after veteran stunt pilot
jim leroy
's plane slammed on to the runway at the
dayton air show
in
2007
. meanwhile investigators will be looking at factors including weather to determine what caused the plane carrying
wicker
and schwenker to crash.
michelle franzen
,
nbc
news, new york.